by Phil Houseal | Jul 15, 2026 | All Articles, Education, History, People of the Hill Country, Philosophy
July 15, 2026–“Edna” taught all of us in the office how to walk. Step… step… breathe. Step… step… breathe. She demonstrated, walking across the lobby, pausing to inhale sharply every two steps. We had to wipe off our smiles when she reached the...
by Phil Houseal | Jul 8, 2026 | All Articles, Education, Philosophy
July 8, 2026–If the early birds gets the worm, they can have it. I’ve noticed a pattern where people get punished for completing a task too soon, and suffer no consequences for finishing a thing too late, or not at all. This chaps me, because I love getting projects...
by Phil Houseal | Jul 1, 2026 | All Articles, History, Philosophy
July 1, 2026–I am a connoisseur of manure. As a farm boy, I was knee deep in it. I can discuss the merits and shortcomings of each variety. The globular tackiness of horse manure. The iconic patty shape of cow. The lumpy dustiness of chicken and turkey. The tiny...
by Phil Houseal | Jun 24, 2026 | All Articles, Food
June 24, 2026–What is real food? I think I have discovered a way to tell. I call it the “Hen Test.” Many of us have lived through decades of “expert” advice on what Americans should make part of a healthy diet. We all remember the original food pyramid that was...
by Phil Houseal | Jun 17, 2026 | All Articles, Education, Food, History, Philosophy
June 17, 2026–What substance found naturally on earth caused mankind to go to war, forge new trade routes, and walk past chocolate chip cookies in a bakery? I give you salt. This substance must once have seemed to hold magical properties. It could be used to enhance...
by Phil Houseal | Jun 10, 2026 | All Articles, Food, History, Philosophy
June 10, 2026–My online shopping strategy is to haphazardly drop individual items into my shopping cart over a matter of weeks until I have enough to qualify for free shipping from this huge site named after a South American river. I am never in a hurry to buy more...
by Phil Houseal | Jun 3, 2026 | All Articles, Education, Philosophy
May 27, 2026–You live life on a continuum. Imagine a giant control panel with sliders. Each slider is a track, representing one facet of your life. For example, in the control room of your existence, there would be separate sliders for athleticism, musicality,...
by Phil Houseal | May 27, 2026 | All Articles, Philosophy
May 27, 2026–Why do we derive such satisfaction from being offended? I’ve come to believe some people find their value in being perpetually, terminally upset. Like when they get only two pickles on their Super Clown Smashburger instead of the advertised three. But it...
by Phil Houseal | May 20, 2026 | All Articles, Education, Philosophy, PR Tips
May 20, 2026–“The private car stood alone on a railroad siding bathed in the hot red blood of a desert sunset.” That is the first line of a novel. In 19 words, it sets the scene–the geography (desert), the time (sunset), the location (railroad siding), the status of...
by Phil Houseal | May 13, 2026 | All Articles, Education, History, Philosophy
May 13, 2026–I need potatoes. I’m grilling steaks. The meal requires a traditional side dish that is delicious with gravy. You have potatoes. Piles of potatoes. You grow them in your garden, and you have dug up more than your family can eat in a reasonable amount of...
